Zambian Election
Zambians go to the polls on Thursday. This is an early election for them after the death of President Levy Mwanawasa in August. It looks to be a referendum of continuity versus change in the ruling party.
Zambia has been one of the most stable members of Central Africa. Frontrunners in this election are Rupiah Banda (Movement for Multiparty Democracy) and Michael Sata (Patriotic Front). Banda, the Vice President to Mwanawasa and current acting President, states that he will continue to pursue the policies of Mwanawasa, which have included inflation fighting measures and promotion of copper exports. Mwanwasa proved to be very popular among the international community. Banda has the support and backing of former presidents Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba.
Sata, a former MMD party mmber who started PF in 2001, received 29.4% of the vote in 2006 and garners strong support from Lusaka Sata has developed something of a populist image, but this may be tamed if he is the victor. Lower copper prices, caution from international investors in emerging markets and a MMD-controlled parliament will, most likely, stiffle any attempts at major policy change. The Economist puts it rather bluntly and makes little attempt to hide its skepticism of Sata:
Zambia relies less on foreign generosity than a few years ago, but a big chunk of its budget is still funded abroad; the tap would soon run dry if economic policy became populist.
Hakainde Hichilema, a third party candidate from the United Democratic Alliance is getting less attention despite the fact that he collected 25% of the vote in 2006 presidential elections.
Of course, there is the potential for a tumultuous couple of weeks following the election, considering some ballot concerns and bitter political rivalries between the PF and MMD.
